People run for Cuba’s Marabana Marathon

Each year in November, thousands of Cubans and foreign people run for  Cuba’s Marabana Marathon.

People hit the streets in the “Marabana/Maracuba” marathons (running in events between 5 and 42 kms), regardless of their age, gender or ideology. All that’s needed is the will and desire to go the distance – whether walking, jogging or running.

They usually take place over a weekend and this year Maracuba was on Saturday Nov. 19 and Marabana on Sunday the 20th.

There were lots of children among the participants, therefore there was no shortage of excitement; it was there in the laughter, shouts of support (and some that poked fun), comments and even the occasional vomiting from exhaustion as the competitors filed along.

As 12-year-old Jonathan put it, “I ran like a mad man. I couldn’t let my dad down. I promised him I wouldn’t.” The youngster crossed the finish line red, panting and gasping for air. He added, “I already knew the way; I ran the course several times in training.”

Patricia is a young food service and cooking student joins in the race when the bell sounds, but she has never participated officially in the run. As Patricia explained:

“It’s because I’m afraid to make a fool of myself. When you register for the Marabana, in the half marathon or the marathon, you get a microchip that records your speed. But I’m not a fast runner, not even when running the shorter distance.

“For me, what I like is trying to see if I can make the distance, seeing how far I can go in the run. In the Maracuba I always do the four kilometer run, and last year in the Marabana I made it 6 km.

“This time I want to run farther, but speed doesn’t matter to me. Also, if I’m officially registered I’d have to show up and I come because I want to; when I think about it being an obligation then I don’t like it as much.”

On this the 25th anniversary of the Marabana marathon, under a constant and sweltering sun, more than 2,600 runners turned out.

First place in the half marathon (21 kms) went to athlete Richard Perez, a specialist in the 5,000 and 10,000 meter run. His time of (1:04.52) in the Marabana half marathon was which was close to the 1:03:41 record.

Among women, the winner in the half marathon was hurdles athlete Milena Perez (1:28.19).

In the full marathon, first places went to Alexei Machado (2:28.04) and Yadira Gonzalez (3:14.40).

Those are the the results of the athletes, but without a doubt the greatest attraction is the popular participation by people of all ages who exercise daily and enjoy it.

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